October 2

Fair Housing Practices Amendment Act of 2026

A new law changes how District landlords may bill tenants for fees.

The Fair Housing Practice Amendment Act of 2026 (D.C. Law 26-156) prohibits landlords from charging tenants fees for services required to maintain a rental unit in a condition consistent with the implied warranty of habitability. These include service, administrative, or similar fees for access to utilities such as water, sewer, and trash service. The Act also requires landlords to notify former tenants in writing of any outstanding balances after moveout. You can find the law here.

In addition, the District has published a revised Tenant Bill of Rights, and a new pet fee law is now effective.

The main takeaways are:

Submetered billing and service fees mostly prohibited

Landlords are now prohibited from charging tenants fees, such as administrative or third-party fees, to pay for electricity, gas, waste and sewage, water, or internet and telephone service. Landlords also cannot charge trash or lock fees.

These prohibited fees are distinct from charges for utilities, which remain permissible. The law also expressly allows landlords to charge tenants for utilities using a Ratio Utility Billing System (RUBS).

Beginning January 1, 2027, landlords will also be prohibited from separately billing tenants for utility charges attributable to vacant units and common spaces, including lobbies, leasing offices, business centers, pools, and fitness centers.

RUBS expressly allowed

The Act expressly allows landlords to use RUBS to allocate master-metered utility charges to tenants, provided that the allocation formulas are based on square footage, occupancy, or number of bedrooms. Landlords should clearly disclose to prospective tenants in rental applications how each utility is billed at the property, including how the charges are calculated and the specific billing method used for each utility.

Post-moveout notice process outlined

The Act also establishes a timeline for landlords to address unpaid balances on tenants’ accounts after moveout.

Within 45 days after a tenancy terminates, the landlord must send the tenant written notice containing: (a) any unpaid balance, including rent arrears, charges for damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, and post-moveout charges to the landlord; (b) photographs or other documentation of the unpaid amounts; (c) a statement informing the tenant of the right to dispute the amounts; and (d) the landlord’s contact information.

The tenant then has 30 days after service to dispute the unpaid amounts. The landlord has 10 days after receiving the tenant’s response to respond in writing.

The landlord must retain documentation showing that the tenant was served with the initial notice for at least 60 days before sending the unpaid amount to a debt collector.

Tenant Bill of Rights

The Tenant Bill of Rights was revised on September 25, 2026. You can find the new version here.

The Pets in Housing Amendment Act

The prohibition on breed, size, and weight restrictions in new residential leases under the Pets in Housing Amendment Act of 2024 took effect on October 1, 2026.

The limitations on pet security deposits became effective October 1, 2025.

You can review the Pet Law here.

Next Steps

As always, we are here to answer questions about this new legislation. If you have any questions, please call our office at 202-269-3333.

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December 7

WJLA Interview on DC Squatter’s Rights

ABC affiliate WJLA, News on Your Side, interviewed Aaron Sokolow to discuss Squatter’s Rights in Washington, DC. In a segment called, “Legal loopholes complicate eviction of alleged squatter in DC,” they examined a case involving a woman who was in a property and the question became whether she was a tenant or a squatter. The news story on the topic can be found here. A link to Aaron’s full interview can be found here.

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November 12

DC Rent Registry

There is a new registration requirement for all DC landlords. Since the inception of the Rental Housing Act in 1985, all Registration and Claim of Exemption Forms could only be filed in paper. Now, DC’s Rental Accommodation Division (“RAD”) is using RentRegistry, an online database. RAD will no longer accept paper filings.

Importantly, by November 29, 2025, all housing providers must re-register all rental properties, regardless of whether the properties are already registered or are currently exempt from rent control.

The RentRegistry is meant to handle filings such as: Registration/Claim for Exemption (RAD Form 1); Amended Registration (RAD Form 2); Tenant Disclosures and Notices (RAD Forms 3, 4, and 5); Tenant Registration of Protected Status (RAD Form 6); and Rent Adjustment Notices (RAD Forms 8 and 9). The RentRegistry will require the same data and information as RAD’s paper forms.

DC has made available videos and manuals to assist landlords with the new database.

Here is the link to the landlord manual: User Guide Housing Provider Portal.

Here is the link to a 2-hour demonstration webinar: Watch the RentRegistry Demonstration.

Here is a Grid Template to assist landlords with a large number of rental units with organizing information: Grid Template.

Here is information on the rate of return calculations for landlords with rent control units: dhcd.dc.gov/ publication/form-1-rad-registration-claim-exemption-form.

Here is a nearly 2-hour demonstration webinar designed specially for “small” landlords: Training for Small Housing Providers – April 22, 2025 (stream via YouTube)

Here is a nearly 2-hour demonstration webinar designed specially for “large” landlords: Training for Large Housing Providers – April 24, 2025 (stream via YouTube)

Battino & Sokolow is also aware of multiple third-party providers who are working with landlords to handle and ensure compliance with the new registration requirements. As always, we are here to help answer questions and make sure you have the information you need to be entirely and accurately licensed and registered. If you have any questions, please call our office at 202-269-3333.

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July 11

Do landlords have to provide AC? Here’s what renters should know.

Do landlords have to provide AC? The Washington Post quoted Attorney Aaron Sokolow in an article about whether landlords are required to provide air conditioning. In the District of Columbia, the answer is: it depends. There is no law requiring landlords to provide tenants with air conditioning. But, if the landlord provides air conditioning as a service to the tenant, then the landlord must maintain it. DC Regulations define “maintain” as keeping the unit 15 degrees cooler than the outside. You can read the Washington Post article here.

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